KYIV, April 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv, his office said.
It was the first meeting between Zelensky and US officials since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb 24.
“Today the Ukrainian people are united and strong, and Ukraine-US friendship and partnership are stronger than ever!” Zelensky tweeted Sunday.
Presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovych, speaking during an interview on YouTube earlier Sunday, confirmed that the meeting was ongoing.
“Talking to the president. Maybe they can help.” he added.
Arestovych repeated Ukraine’s appeal for offensive weapons, “because as long as there are no ‘offensives’, there will be a new Bucha every day”, he added, referring to the town where UN officials said they had documented the unlawful killings of around 50 civilians.
“They wouldn’t come here if they weren’t ready to give (weapons),” he said of the visiting US officials.
On Saturday, Zelensky said that he was grateful for the help Washington had provided to Ukraine thus far, even if he wanted heavier, more powerful weapons to use against the Russian forces.
During his YouTube interview, Arestovych said in the Black Sea port of Mariupol, where the remaining Ukrainian forces are surrounded, the defence was “on the brink of collapse”. — NNN-AGENCIES
